Electrolytic cell



Dec. 9, 1941. a. E. JOHNSON ETAL ELECTROLYTIC CELL 3 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed Dec. 22, 1937 N NW WON BK S SEQI H wbw N TR M m NANA T WE T NNmwLv A l QRW. Y B

Emmi-QM G. E. JOHNSON ET AL ELECTROLYTIC CELL Filed Dec. 22, 1937 3Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS GUNNARD E..TOHNSON REGINALD G. BOWMAN BY WILLAM:I. KNOXJR.

Dec. 9, 1941. G. E. JOHNSON ET AL ELECTROLYTIC CELL Filed Dec. 22, 19373 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS G NNARD E. JOHNSON REGINALD G.

BY WHJJAM J. KNOX,3'R

V ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 9, 1941 Gunnard E. Johmon, Hammond,

Bowman, Gary, and William J. Hammond, Ind., assignors to smelting andRefining Company, Ind., a corporation of Montana Reginald G. Knox. 1n,tel-national East Chicag Application December 22, 1937, Serial No.181,152' (Cl. 204-457) 7 Claims.

This invention relates to electrolysis and has for an object theprovisionof certain improvements in electrolytic cells of the bifluidtype and in the method of operating such cells. More particularly, theinvention contemplates the provision of improved biiiuid cells of thetype employed for producing insoluble metal compounds, such, forexample, as .cells of the type employed for producing white lead inwhich the electrolytes are circulated through the cells.

A cell of the type employed heretofore usually includes a heavy concretetank in which are suspended in alternate arrangement a plurality ofanodes and a plurality of cathodes surrounded by permeable diaphragms.In the operation of the cell, the catholyte is introduced at the bottomof the catholyte compartment, and the anolyte is introduced near the topof the anolyte compartment. Consequently, the anolyte and catholyte flowthrough the cell in counter-current relationship and have differentrelative compositions at difierent levels in the cell with they resultthat a tendency toward the development of a non-uniform product isdeveloped. Also, in the operation of the cell of the type employedheretofore, the structural arrangement of the various elements is suchthat the catholyte in the cathode compartment is maintained at a higherlevel than the anolyte in the cell. Owing to this diiference of head, itis necessary to use as the diaphragm a fabric of very low porosity.Fabric of this kind is expensive and difllcult to procure, and it' mustbe replaced after a time due to development of increased porosity.

In order to clean or repair a cell of the type employed heretofore, itis nece'sary to cut out of operation the entire cell with all of itsanodes and cathodes. This is objectionable because it may cause anundesirably large reduction in the production of the cellroom.Increasing the number of cells also is inconvenient and ambersome, asthe heavy concrete tank must first be poured and then installed.

The present invention provides for the elimination of many of theobjectionable features of cells and methodsiof operation employedheretofore. The invention provides a cell of simple, light and compactconstruction which may, and preferably does comprise a single unit orwhich may comprise any larger number of units the inclusion of whichwill not prevent the attainment of the objectives of simplicity,lightness and compactness. A characteristic feature 'of the cell of theinvention is the inclusion of the cathode as an element of the cellstructure, an

element such, for example, as a wall of In the preferred single unit timof or the invention, the end walls of the cell comprise parallel platesformed of a metal suitable for use as a cathode. Two diaphragm spacedcell are provided adiacentthe end walls and parallel thereto, forming acentral anolyte compartment with catholyte compartments (1189 thatv therelative levels of the two electrolytes can be so adjusted that they aresubstantially equal or that either one is at any desired height above orbelow the other, and means are provided for introducing bothelectrolytes into the bottom portions of their respective compartmentsto permit the maintenance of co-current or parallel flow asdistinguished from the counter-current flow employed heretofore.

The invention also provides cell-assembling apparatus to facilitate theinstallation and replacement of cells.

The apparatus of the invention provides for great flexibility in theoperation of a cell room.

The cells of the invention, particularly the preferred single unitcells, are simple, compact and light. Cells can be replaced quickly andeasily when repairs are necessary without disturbing the operation ofother cells or units, and additional cells can be installed withoutdifficulty.

The objects of the invention and the details of construction of apreferred cell of the invention and of the apparatus of the inventionfor use in assembling the same will be apparent from the followingdescription taken in connection with the accompanying drawings whichformv a part of this specification and in which Fig. 1 is a sideelevation of the cell;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same:

Fig. 3 is a section through Fig. 1 taken along the line 3-4;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation showing an assembly of cell, bus bars,piping, etc.; 1

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the same; and

Fig. 6 represents a section through Fig. 4 along the line H.

A cell made in accordance with this invention consists essentially oftwo parallel iron face plates, two diaphragms betweenthe faceplatesparallel thereto and spaced therefrom sufflcienfly to formcatholyte compartments between the same and the face plates, saiddiaphragm! being p from each other and spaced from the end walls of thepass through holes in the anode.

spaced from each other sumciently'to form an anolyte compartment andmeans for closing the bottom and sides of the cell.

In the drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of thisinvention, the numeral l represents rectangular pan shaped iron sheetswhich may convenientlyv be regarded as face plates of the cell. Theseface plates are provided with flanged edges. Each cell comprises twosuch iron'plates which serve both as cathodes and as outer walls of thecathode compartment 2. The

face plates I are spaced apart by the main center J frame member I andthe twoouter frame'members 3, these'frame members being of the shape ofthe outline of the face plates I, preferably U- shaped. The main framemember 4 ismade of insulating material, while the outer frame mem-- bersmay be made of any suitable material but are preferably made of iron andare welded to the face plates.

;;The two diaphragms are stretched between the-side frame members or'catholyte compartment spacers land the main frame member oranolytecompartment'spacers 4. Electrical conftactbetween the cathode orface plate I and thediaphragm I will result in the destruction of faceplates, through the insulating strip, through the "outer edges' of thediaphragm and through the spacer framea Feedpipes are provided forintroducing catholytev into the .catholyte compartments at or near thebottom. thereof and the feed pipe I6 is provided for-introducing anolytenear the bottom of the anolyte-compartment. A catholyte dischargespout-l is provldedat the: top of the front end of eachof the cathodecompartments and an anolyte discharge pipe I! hear the top of theanolyte compartment. Copper contact bars 9 are riveted across the top ofthe cathode sheets Just aboveth. cathode discharge spouts .and extendbeyond the rear of the cell to serve as rear supports for the cell,Within the anolyte compartinent and at right angles to the. face platesare suspended the U-shaped stay rods III which are bottom of the anolytecompartment. These serve to prevent-the diaphragms from bulging intocontact with the anode l2. The upper ends of the stay rods are benttoward the face plates and are held in place by the wooden strips'llwhich serve also to seal the top of the catholyte comipartments. ,Theanode is suspended from the coppe anode contact and support bar l3 (Fig.6) by means of copper wire hangers I 4 which The lower edge of the anodeis preferably some distance above the bottom of the anolyte compartmentI In Figs. .,4 to 6, which show the framework upon which the individualcells are suspended and the assembly of cell, bus bars, piping, etc.,thenumeral i! represents a suitable base upon .which are mounted thefront and rear upright supporting frames 18. The anode bus bar I 9 whichisplaced across the front supporting frame serves as a front support forthe anode contact bar ljwhich is kept in its proper place between thecopper pins placed in the bus bar I 9. The rear end of the bar I3 restsin a groove in a hard-rubber spacer 2| which is placed upon the woodenframe member 3| which extends across the rear frame supports l8.

In front of the cell and nearthe top of the cell-supporting framework isthe catholyte discharge launder 22 and below it is the anolyte dischargelaunder 23. On the catholyte discharge launder 22 is mounted a frontrest and spacer 24 which is provided with grooves in which the catholytedischarge spouts 8 rest. The rear of the cell is supported by restingthe cathode contact bar 9 in grooves in the hard-rubber spacer 25 andvon the copper cathode bus bar 26, both the -spacer 25 and the bar 26being supported by the horizontal wooden-bar 21 which is secured to,

the rear frame supports l8. A rubber tube attached to the anolytedischarge pipe l5 carries the anolyte overflow from the cell into theanolyte launder.

The catholyte feed tubes 1. are connected to the hard-rubber catholytemanifold 28 and the anolyte feed tube I6 is connected to the hardrubberanolyte manifold 29. The wooden pieces 30 form with the base a drainlaunder through tages over other types of electrolytic cells. The

- concrete cell tank required by the commonly used I it is necessary tocut out a large number of units while in the single-unit cell, one unitat a time can be removed and quickly replaced with a new cell withoutinterfering with the remaining cells in the cell room. Tov ii reasethe'number of cells of the multiple unit type it is necessary first topour and then install the heavyconcrete'tanks. The single-unit cells, onthe other hand, are quite light, weighing only a little more than thecathode frames used in the multiple unit cell employed heretofore.

Additional cells can be inframes, launders and feed pipes. When thecells are arranged in rows with the electrodes in parallel in each rowand the rows in series, with the single-unit cell, the current densitycan be varied easily by increasing or decreasing the number of cellssuspended on the bus bar of each row.

As hereinbefore pointed out, one of the defects of the multiple unitcell employed heretofore that is corrected by the cell of this inventionis the necessity of maintaining catholyte in the cathode compartment ata higher level than anolyte in the cell tank in order that the formercan be discharged over the edge of the cell. This difference of headmakes it necessary to use an expensive fabric of very low porosity asthe diaso that they are equal or so that either one can be at anydesired height above or below the other. This feature of the cellpermits regulating the seepage through the diaphragms by adjusting thelevels of the electrolytes thus eliminating the necessity of procuringthe best grades of diaphragm fabric and of discarding the fabric whenits seepage in service becomes too high. In the operation of the cell,the relative levelsare so ad justed and maintained as to provide thedesired amount of seepage; Changes in rates of seepage due to increasedporosity resulting from use are compensated for by varying the levels ofthe electrolytes.

In the heretofore customary use of the multiple-unit cell and othertypes of cells employing the expedient of circulating electrolytes, theanolyte and catholyte flow through the cell counter-current to eachother and therefore vary in composition at different levels in the cell.This disadvantageous condition is not present in the single-unit cell ofthis invention, since both electrolytes enter at the bottom anddischarge at the top, and a greater flow of anolyte through the cell canbe maintained to decrease the amount of change in its compositionwithout danger of.dislodging slime from the anodes. These changes indirection and rate of flow produce a more uniform product.

It is to be understood that the apparatus shown is only illustrative andthat it may be considerably varied without departure from the invention.

We claim:

l. A bifluid electrolytic cell for producing insoluble metal compoundscomprising a singleunit cell adapted to be removably supported as a uniton a frame and having a substantially U-shaped main frame of insulatingmaterial, a. corresponding substantially non-conducting U- shaped sideframe secured to said main frame, a diaphragm clamped in place betweenthe side frame and the main frame, means cooperating with the main frameand the diaphragm in a manner to form an anolyte compartment, a $01-uble anode disposed within the anolyte compartment, a cathode metal faceplate secured to the outside of the side frame and spaced thereby asubstantial distance from the diaphragm in a manner to form a catholytecompartment be-' soluble metal compounds comprising a single-- unit celladapted to be removably supported as a unit on a frame and having asubstantially U-shaped main frame of insulating material, correspondingsubstantially non-conducting U- shaped side frames secured to each sideof said main frame,diaphragms clamped in place between soluble metalcompounds comprising a singleunit cell adapted to be removably supportedas a unit on a frame and having a' substantially frame and the mainframe, means cooperating each side frame and the main frame in a manthediaphragms, a soluble anode disposed within the anolyte compartment, acathode metal face plate secured to the outside of each side frame andspaced thereby a substantial distance from the adjacent diaphragm in amanner to form catholyte compartments between the cathode face platesand the diaphragm with the face plates substantially insulated from thediaphragms, the cathode face plate being imperiorate and forming anexternal member of the cell, means for introducing and maintaining abody of anolyte in the anolyte compartment, and means for introducingand maintaining a body of catholyte in each catholyte compartment.

3. A bifluid electrolytic cell for producing inwith the main frame andthe diaphragm in a manner to form an anolyte compartment, a solubleanodedisposed within the anolyte compartmerit, a cathode metal face platesecured to the outside of the side frame and spaced thereby asubstantial distance from the diaphragm in a mannerto form a catholytecompartment between said face plate and the diaphragm with the faceplates substantially insulated from the diaphragm, the cathode faceplate being imperforate and forming an external member of the cell,means for introducing anolyte into the lower portion of the anolytecompartment and for withdrawing anolyte from the upper portion thereof,

and means for introducing catholyte into the lower portion of thecatholyte compartment and for withdrawing catholyte tion thereof. H I

4. A bifluid electrolytic cell for producing insoluble metal compoundscomprising a singleunit cell adapted to be-removably supported as a uniton a frame and having a substantially U-shaped main frame of insulatingmaterial, corresponding substantially non-conducting U- shaped sideframes secured to each side of said main frame, diaphragms clamped inplace between each side frame and the main frame in a manner to form ananolyte compartment be-' tween the diaphragms, a soluble anode disposedwithin the anolyte compartment. a cathode metal face plate secured tothe outside of each side frame and spaced thereby a substantial distancefrom the adjacent diaphragm in a. manner to formcatholyte compartmentsbetween the oathode face plates and the diaphragm with the face from theupper portions thereof in a manner to effect upward circulation ofcatholyte through the catholyte compartment in parallel flow relationwith circulation of anolyte through the anolyte compartment.

5. In a bifluid electrolytic cell for producing insoluble metalcompounds comprising a singleunit cell adapted to be removably supportedas a unit on aframe and having a U-shaped main frame, correspondingU-shaped side frames secured to each side of the main frame, a diaphragmstretched and clamped in place between each side frame and the mainframe in a manner to form an anolyte compartment between said.diaphragms, a soluble anode disposed within the anolyte compartment,and an imperforate cathode metal face plate secured to the outside ofeach side frame and forming an external member of the cell spaced a.substantial distance from the diaphragm and thereby forming catholytecompartments between the cathode face plates from the upper porand thediaphr gms, means for preventing the diaphragms from bulging inwardlytoward thev anolyte compartment comprising relatively deep U-shaped stayrods of insulating material secured at their upper ends to the frame andhaving legs spaced apart a distance corresponding to the distancebetween the diaphragm, said stay rods, being mounted between thediaphragms in the plates and the frame form a container for an I anolytecompartment with the legs thereof positionedto resist inwardbulging ofthe diaphragm.

6. In a bifiuid electrolytic cell for producing in- I soluble metalcompounds comprising a single-unit I cell adapted to be removablysupported as a unit on a frame and having a U-shaped main frame,

a corresponding U-sliaped side frame secured to each side of the mainframe, a diaphragm stretched and clamped inplace between the main frameand each side frame in a manner to form an anolyte compartment betweenthe diaphragms, a soluble anode disposed within the anolyte compartment,and a cathode metal face plate secured" to the outside of said sideframe and spaced thereby a substantial distance from the diaphragm, thecathode face plate being im-; perforate and forming an external memberof the cell, means for insulating the diaphragm from said cathodecomprising a layer of insulating'material interposed between the edgepor tions of the diaphragm and the corresponding adjacent edge portionsof the cathode faceplate.

insoluble metal compounds comprising a plurality of unit bifiuidelectrolytic cells each comprising cathode plates forming a structuralpart of the cell and being mounted on asubstantially U shaped frameinsuch manner that the cathode electrolyte, diaphragms dividing eachcell into an inner anolyte compartment and outer catholytecompartments,a soluble anode disposed in the anolyte compartment, a catholytedischarge spout communicating with the catholyte compartments andrigidly secured to a structural element of the 7 cell at one side nearthe top thereof, and a cathfl. An electrolytic cell assembly forproducing ode contact bar secured rigidly to a cathode plate at theother side of the cell near the top thereof, and means for supportingsaid cells comprising a base, front and rear upright supports, a,horizontal cathode bus bar mounted on one of said supports and arrangedto, receive the cathodes contact bars of a plurality of cells in amanner to provide support for each unit cell, and a catholyte overflowlaunder mounted on the other of said supports and arranged to receivethe catholyte discharge spouts of a'plurallty of cells in a manner toprovide support for each unit cell, said discharge spouts and cathodecontact bars constituting major load-carrying members of the cellsmounted on the cell supporting means.

' GUNNARD E. JOHNSON. REGINALD GLBOWMAN. WILLIAM J. KNOX, JR.

